Arch support



April 1932' A. R. BONFIELD v 1,853,296

ARCH SUPPORT Filed July 26, 1929 Q via Patented Apr. 12 1932 PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED R. BONFIELD, or BROOKLYN, new Yonx ARCH SUIPPOR'I.

Application fildJ'uly 26,

This invention relates to arch supports for shoes, the object of the invention being to provide a, simple, inexpensive, one-piece, llght-welght, solld and non-resilientcast.

aluminum arch support so constructed as to be permanently incorporated in the shoejbetween the outer and inner soles thereof during the manufacture of the shoe. 7

Arch supports as usually constructed are resilient and consequently shift and frequent lychange their elevations, so that it is necessary to adjust andraise the arch, necessarily.

causing considerable inconvenience to the wearer, which operation also not infrequently results in the breakage or splitting of the metal of which the arch support is formed,

thereby necessitating the purchase of a new pair of arch supports. I

Moreover, arch supports as usually constructed are made up of a plurality of members fastened or riveted together and in use these parts not infrequently become loose and, furthermore, are expensive to manufacture. It is also common practice to provide arch 5 supports adapted to be inserted into the shoe by the wearer, but such forms of arch supports are more or less uncomfortable, fre-' quently shift, are not as "effective as they should be, and cause more or less discomfort to the wearer while requiring frequent renewals. I

Therefore, the object ofthe present improvement is to provide a properly-shaped and constructed aluminum arch support so constructed that it can beincorporated in the shoe, and willnot materially add tothe cost of the shoe.

In the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specificationee Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view 1'?) of a shoe this improved arch support in- 1929. Serial No. 381,131.

corporated therein, this view illustrating a shoe for the left foot; 7

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a shoe. taken on line 2-2, Fig. 1, illustratingthis improved arch support; I

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the arch support removed from the shoe;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on line H, Fig. 3; and i Fig. 5 is ,a perspective view of this improved'arch support. 1

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

Before explaining in detail thepresent improvement and mode of operation thereof, I desire to have it understood that the invention is not limited tothe details of construction and arrangement of parts which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other enibodiments, and that the phraseology which I employ is forthe purpose of description and not of limitation.

This improved arch support comprises a solid, one-piece, cast aluminum plate and is, therefore, without any resiliency, andhas substantially theshape shown in Fig. 3, which illustrates an arch for the left foot and consists of a cast aluminum member or plate 2 having a relatively broad forward end 3, a relatively narrow rear or heel end 4, and therebetween a gradually thickened, elevated and convex surface 5 for supporting the arch of thefoot, the under surface of this portion 5 being hollowed out or concaved, as at 6, for the purpose of permitting the proper. shaping of the shoe. "The opposed, edge? of the arch member is slightly curved and this edge, together with the edges of the forward and heel parts 3 and 4,is relatively thin, the under face of the plate conforming to the shape of the outer sole of the shoe and comparatively flat. I

The'narrow heel portion 4.- is connected with the convex portion 5 by a relatively sharp inclined edge 8, while the front portion 3 is connected with such elevated portion 5 by a slightly curved inclined edge 9 having, however, less inclination than the edge 8. The top surfaces adjacent to these edges 8 and 9, as at 10 and 11, are slightly curved, or hollowed out or concaved, thereby forming an easy rise to the convex portion 5; While the surface between the edge 7 and elevated portion 5, as at 12, has a very gradual upward convex formation, thus providing a comfortable archefiective to properlysupport. the main archiof the foot.

This improved arch support is thus made solid in one piece Without any connected, members or rivets for incorporation 1n a shoe during the manufacture thereof between the outer and the inner soles for the purpose of supporting the main arch of the afoot, and

when so incorporated it is permanently locatedi'againstshifting and by reason of its non-resilient construction no re-adj ustment, duezto ;wear or use, is required.

Thus it'will'be' observed that this improved arch support, formed of cast alu1ninum, .is-

or arrangement, itis not intended to limit the invention: beyond the terms of the several olaim'sor: the requirements of the prior art;

Having thus explained thenature of my said invention and described a Way of constructing and using the same, although without attempting to setxf'orth I allof the forms in which it may bemadeor all of the modes of its I claim 1i A onepiece, solid, non resilient, light Weight arch support permanently-embedded between the inner and outer sole'sof a shoe and shapedto support the main 1 arch ofthe foot and comprising amember havinga relatively broad frontportion and arelatively narrow heel portion having relatively thin edges and merging into a thickened convexelevated portion having'a hollowed or concaved 'under portion.

2. A one-piecesolid, non-resilient, light-' arch support permanently-embedded between the inner and outer soles of a shoe and shaped tosupportthemain arch of the foot and comprising a member having are'latively' broad front portion and arelatively narrow heel portion"havingrelatively thin edges and merging into the thickenedconvexelevated portion having a hollowed or conceived under portion, the inclination of'fthe edge? connecting the heelportion with the elevated portion being greater than the-"in- We-d mate-'- clination of the edge connecting the front portion with the elevated portion.

3. A one-piece, solid, non-resilient, cast aluminum arch support permanently embedded between the inner and outer soles of a shoe and shaped to support the main arch of the foot'and com rising;aplate having relatively-thin'longi udinal and frontand rear edges gradually merging into a thickened, elevated convex top surface at one side conforming to the instep of the foot having an underconcaved or hollowed portion.

4. A one-piece, solid, non-resilient, cast aluminum arch: mpport permanently embedded between the inner and outer soles of a: shoe and V shaped to support the main arch of the foot' and comprising a: plate havin relatively thinlongitudinal and front' an i rear edges gradually 'merging into:a*thicR-'- ened, elevated oonvextop surface at-one side: conforming to theinst'epof thefoot having an under" concaved orhollowed portion, the opposite side of 'theplatefrom the elevated portion liav'ingin'clined front and reared'ges.

5; A one piece, s0lid,'- non resillentg cast;- 90 aluminum arch support permanently embedded between the inner and outer soles of a shoe and shaped to support the main'sroh' of the foot and comprising a* pi'alte having relatively thinlongitudinal and front) and 95 rear edges graduallymerging into white:- ened, elevated-convex top surface at oneside conforming to the instep off'tlie foothaving:

an under concaved" or hollowed portion, the opposite side of the plate fiomtheelvatd portion having inclined front a'ndrear edges, the inclined edge extendlng front the elit vated portion to tli'erear' being greater than the front inclined edge. e

6. A one-piece, solid; non iesi-liearzt; cast aluminum archsupport permanently embedded between the inner'and outersoles'wof aishoe-andshaped to support the mainm'cli of the foot and comprising a= plate Havinga relatively thin, slightly curved;' longitudinal edge and relatively thin front and-rem curved edges; the front; being" broader than the rear, said'plate hwving a gradually raisedl convex, thickened; elevstediportionlat 'its op posite side mergingrintmthea front and rem portions-by inclined iedges, one; of greater. in+ clinationrthan the other, andisaid plate :haw ing; a: hollowed or conceived portion under the elevated portions.

7 i A. onei-piece,-. solid, non-resilient,, 0S1; aluminumerch support permanently embed+ ded between the inner and outer soles of Q a shoeandlshaped to support themainiarch'bf the foot and'comprising, aplate havin a relatively thin, slightly curved, longitudinal edge and relatively thin front and rear curved edges, the frontbeing broader. than the rear, said plate having'aigraduallyraised, convex; thickened, elevated portion at its opposite side merging into the frontand rear'por tions by inclined edges, one of greater inclination than the other, and said plate having a hollowed or concaved portion under the elevated portion and said plate having a relatively fiat under surface.

8. A one-piece, solid, non-resilient, cast aluminum arch support permanently embedded between the inner and outer soles of a shoe and shaped to support the main arch of the foot and comprising a plate 'havin a relatively thin, slightly curved, longitudinal edge and relatively thin front and rear curved edges, the front being broader than the rear, said plate having a gradually raised, convex, thickened, elevated portion at its opposite side merging into the front and rear portions by inclined edges, the rear inclined edge having greater inclination than the forward in- I clined edge, and said plate having a hollowed or concaved portion under the elevated portion and said plate having a relatively flat under surface. I

Signed at Brooklyn, county of Kings and State of New York, this 24th day. of July,

ALFRED R. BONFIELD. 

